Or the like



Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

. Frame/"Z2 52" V 4 DIE/k0) F. C. DICKOW.

INDEX CENTER 03 THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 2. 1918.

FRED C. DIGKOW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 11, 1919.

Application filed January 2, 1918. Serial No. 210,036.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED C. Droxow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Index-Centers or the like, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as index centers, dividing engines or the like for use on milling or other machines, and more particularly relates to an improved mechanism for locking the swivel block to its body or frame. The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, durable, eflicient, compact and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. More particularly it relates to means for drawing the swivel block of the index center or dividing engine onto the frame or base and securely maintaining and locking the same in the desired position. It is so constructed, however, that the swivel block may be quickly and easily released when the same is to be swiveled. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein made.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a sectional view through an index center illustrating my improved de- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 1s a perspective view of the clamping member 9 on an enlarged scale.

. Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a body frame or base constructed to be secured on the milling machine table in any suitable manner and arranged to carry the swivel block 2. The swivel block 2 carries the spindle 3 and center 4, which are suitably controlled and actuated by means of the worm wheel, worm, etc., shown but not necessary to describe in detail in this application. As before mentioned the present in vention relates particularly to the construction and mechanism for securing the swivel block on the base or body.

Inthe preferred construction the base is provlded with the support 5 at the front and with the support 6 at the back, which back support and clamp is in the form of a ring and arranged to receive the portion 2 of the swivel block, the block being rotatable on its supports. The block issecured to the clamping member and back support 6 preferably by means of a plate 7, bolts 8 and the necessary nutsor their equivalents. As will be obvious, the plate 7 and bolts draw the swivel block firmly to the support 6 and in themselves maintain it against movement thereat.

The front side of the swivel head is maintamed upon its support and clamping part 5 by means of a clamping member 9 arranged to engage with the swivel block in a groove extending thereabout from one side of the worm case to the other. The part 5, as will be noted, does not surround the entire block, but is suflicient to form a dependable support for the block. This groove, as

shown, is formed with an inclinedor bev eled face 13, the opposite side being straight or as desired. The clamping member 9 is suitably secured to the base. As shown it projects through a slot or opening 14 and engages with the swivel block 2 at the groove mentioned. As most clearly shown in Fig. 3, the same is formed with a curved upper 'side 15 conforming to the bottom of the groove on the slot in the swivel block, and

. with an inclined or beveled face 16 arranged to cooperate with the face 13 on the block, so that in effect a dove tail joint is secured. It is also provided with an opening or hole 17 .substantially as shown, and with one or more holes 18 or their equivalents. The

same is positioned substantially asshovvn in' Figs. 1 and 2, and pins 19 passed through the base and holes 18 in the clamping member. size that the clamping member 9, when not in operative clamping position, is loosely carried by the'pins. Pins 19, however, serve to guide the clamping member and prevent its partial rotation or rocking on its controlling member and consequent binding on the block groove, or its becoming detached The holes 18, however, are of such 7 andlost. The clamping member. is controlled by a member 10 which is preferably formed with a threaded portion 20 arranged to engage with the base 1 and with the tapered portion 21 arranged to. engage with the clamping member 9 on movement of member 10. -T he same is preferably formed with an end 22 arranged to engage the base and support the clamp end of member 10. It will be noted by referring to Figs. 1 and 3 that the opening 17 in the clamping memher is slightly flared at one side so that there is no sharp edge to bear against the face 21.

The bolt or member 10 may be operated in any suitable manner. For example, awrench arranged to engage a hexagon end 24 on the end of the bolt or by the equivalent. I have shown a permanent wrench or handle which may be secured to the end, consisting of the recessed part 25 detachably secured on the head 24, part 27 being an operating handle.

The parts are assembled by removing the worm case 28 so that both ends of the groove in the block are exposed at the top or adjacent the worm case 28. The distance between the two ends is sufiicient to receive the member 9, and the block may be placed upon the supports 5 and 6 with the top down and then turned in either direction, bringing the clamping member 9 in engagement in the groove. The block may then be turned to the desired extent. lVhen the swivel block is set as desired it is locked in place at the back by means of the plate 7 and bolts 8 as described, and in front by turning the member 10, drawing the clamping member 9 downward. This draws the head d wnward and owing to the inclined face 13 cooperating with the inclined face 16,not on draws the head down but tends to force it rearwardly, maintaining it in close contact with the ring 6 to which it is also secured. It will be noted that owing to this particular construction, although the base and swivel block' are comparatively small, yet a large sized worm wheel and worm may be employed. My device, however, owing to the improved construction is particularly compact. It will be noted that with this construction unfastening or releasing the front clamping member does not require the removal of the index plate, nor parts on the front side of the block, nor are there any bolts, nuts or other parts extending from the face of the block. The other parts of the index center need not be described herein as these form the subject matter of a separate application. By the term index center in the claims, I wish to be understood as including index centers, dividing engines, dividing heads, circular head and dividing engines, rotary milling tables or the like, in which it may be desired to look a swivel block.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of p arts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an index center of the kind described and in combination, a base, a rotatable swivel block, said base provided with a ring support at the back and with means for securing the block thereto, and with a support at the front conforming to the contour of the block, said block having a dove-tail groove therein about its periphery and ad jatent said front support, a clamping member loosely carried by the base and projecting into said block groove and engaging the same there-at, and adjustable means for controlling said clamping member to draw the block in close contact with the front and back supports on said base.

2. In a device of the kind described, a suitable base provided with the extension 5 on one side and the extension 6 on the other in combination with a cooperating swivel block conforming to said extensions and having formed therein a groove having an inclined face and extending about the periphery of the block, a cooperating clamping member formed to engage and interlock with said groove, and a bolt extending through the base for drawing said clamping member thereto, whereby when the clamping member is drawn down the swivel block is maintained in close contact with both extensions.

3. In a device of the kind described, a base provided with the extensions 5 and G, in combination with a cooperating swivel block conforming to and adapted to rest upon extension 5 and in extension 6 and having formed in the periphery thereof a locking groove with an inclined face, a clamping member loosely secured to the base provided with a cooperating locking part adapted to extend into the groove and engage said face, and a bolt extending through the base and provided with an inclined end adapted to engage said clamping member whereby the clamping member may be drawn downward on the base and the block drawn in close contact with the front extension 5 and into the back extension 6 on said base.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED C. DICKOW. Witnesses ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Qommissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

